The Five Best American Cars You Can Buy Now

by By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor
It’s that time again, time to celebrate our Independence Day. Most like to celebrate being American with our time-honored tradition: eating. Fair enough. But we’d also like to also take a moment to embrace our other pastime: cars. The American auto industry isn’t out of the deep end quite yet, but here are five products that make us proud to be Americans. USA! USA!

2011 Ford Mustang GT

2011 Ford Mustang GT
Think American muscle has turned to flab in recent years? Time to reconsider. The new Mustang GT, powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 or 5.0-liter V-8 is the total package of fun and frugality with a deviously low starting price of $28,000. The exterior is still that modernized muscle car we’ve grown to love, but it’s the interior that has become more refined with age. Sound dampening has improved, but those clever Ford engineers have created a tube that pumps V-8 induction noise directly into the cabin. We’d love a little V-8 rumble with our coffee, thanks.

2010 Dodge Ram

2010 Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram will always be a quintessential American truck thanks to its aggressive styling and tow capacities that could reduce a grown man to tears. No surprise that the most recent redesign in 2009 made it bigger and better. In addition to major interior improvements and the installation of the Ram Box, coil springs replaced leaf springs, making it a more comfortable truck to drive around town. Of course, that won’t stop it from hauling a massive 15,500 lbs behind it. 

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Raptor
In comic books, all it takes for the average man to become a superhero is a radioactive spider or a particular aversion to bats. The F-150’s transformation into the Raptor is a little more scientific than that, but the result is still the same. Fox Racing shocks control the 11.2 inches of suspension travel, a giant skid plate keeps boulders from destroying the undercarriage and 35-inch all-terrain tires keep the Raptor steering straight – when it’s on the ground, that is. 

2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
We could have chosen the Z06, or even the ZR1, but the best thing about the Corvette Grand Sport is that is delivers Z06 engineering in a standard Corvette for $25K less. What true American doesn’t like saving that kind of money? The 430 horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 is the beating heart of this beast, but the drive is also improved by a wider track, larger tires, racing suspension and retuned gearing. 0-60 mph in four seconds is hardly surprising; remember, we practically invented instant gratification.

2010 Cadillac CTS-V

2010 Cadillac CTS-V
The fastest Cadillac ever produced is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 sourced from the Corvette ZR1, bringing the CTS-V to 60 mph in a mind-blowing 3.9 seconds. It can go nose-to-badge-adorned-nose with some of Germany’s finest sport saloons on the king of the racetracks – the Nürburgring Nordschleife. A competition mode for the stability control, 15-inch Brembo brakes and optional Recaro sport seats make it clear that the CTS-V is ready to rumble. 



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